Thoughts on Food

My dad's side of the family is, in large part, from the Carolinas, and every few years, that's where the annual family reunion is held. The first year we visited was during that time in the 2010s when everyone was oddly obsessed with bacon and mustaches — meanwhile, I was all about the ribs.

Before we even boarded the plane, my brother and I had been warned by my mother that there wasn't much to do other than eat. My mom sounded less-than-excited, but once we started trying all the different spots and seeing all the different styles of sauce, sides, and even cooking, we were all hooked. I was treating it like I was some sort of seasoned culinary judge and not a 14-year-old girl with a poorly developed palate and a TON of opinions — and my parents were fully indulging me. We were a Food Network family, for sure, so they were just as engaged and passionate as I was. By the end of the trip, we knew all about the different kinds of BBQ sauces, mop sauces, brines, dry rubs, smoking styles, techniques, and so much more.

It changed the way we ate out, going forward. We moved away from chains and started eating at all sorts of local spots, and that dialogue around food never ended. Eating out became one of our favorite things to do as a family, and as I got older, food and connecting with others over a meal became a massive part of my life.

My love for the technique and art of cooking started on that trip, but my interest in actually making meals myself and hosting/serving all started when I met my partner, Cameron. It was with him (and a little bit solo) that I explored dining on all levels, from hole-in-the-wall joints to Michelin-star restaurants and speakeasies. It’s also with him that I discovered the highs and lows of being in charge of dinner for yourself every night. Our dinners went from burnt chicken thighs that set off all the fire alarms in my dorm to red wine braised short ribs (and burnt Texas toast that set off our apartment’s fire alarms). Our dinners out went from local burger joints to multicourse tasting menus in the Finger Lakes and beyond. Just like my experiments with cooking at home, this era, too, came with some trial and error. Not every highly reviewed incredibly Instagrammable restaurant is worth your time, but there’s something so special about going to a meal that is executed perfectly on every level. I mean, that could bring out the Martha Stewart in anybody — even me.

And now we’ve arrived at my current era of home chef and foodie, which will be the main focus of this blog (at least, I think so). Here, I’ll take you through some of the worst and best meals of my life, tell you about some of my favorite spots, and maybe even share some of my very own recipes. Follow along for more of my thoughts on food!